Demon Ant Control

[CabritaChicks]

Given you live in a humidity and rainy environment, Diotomaeceous Earth won't work at all, since it barely works in dry environments.
It's also not safe for you or your birds to breathe.
What pesticides are allowed there?

Pesticides? It’s whatever you can bring in by ship. I know that sounds odd, but out here, everything is a version of smuggling or knowing when something arrives... (we do have a mini-Home Depot, though, but it is 'whatever is here'... not 'what home depot carries'). Since we’re in the middle of the sea and tiny compared to Puerto Rico, options are limited. We also can’t import batteries—which is a problem since my power tools need them (I digress).

It’s not as third-world as people assume, but we don’t have municipal water or sewer, and electricity is complicated unless you’re completely off-grid (which we are).

That said, I really don’t like pesticides. I can’t just spray an entire forest, the surrounding area, and the beach with something that could harm wildlife. I run a syntropic garden—or at least I try—but some pests definitely need to go.

 

[CabritaChicks]

Someone just messaged me saying, "Many people are off-grid, and we drink well water, you dont need to be off-grid for that."

Okay… but I live on a rock. There are no wells here—no fresh water of any kind. The only water sources are brackish or runoff from the mountain, which comes with plenty of garbage (cups, vodka bottles, waste and candy wrappers- ick). Very different situation.

We catch rainwater (sometimes only a 'sprinkle' a day- less than a cm from teh roof), which goes into a cistern, but it's dirty due to the African dust. It has to go through purification, and even then, you can shower with it—but you don’t drink it.

 

[nuthatched]

Pesticides? It’s whatever you can bring in by ship. I know that sounds odd, but out here, everything is a version of smuggling or knowing when something arrives... (we do have a mini-Home Depot, though, but it is 'whatever is here'... not 'what home depot carries'). Since we’re in the middle of the sea and tiny compared to Puerto Rico, options are limited. We also can’t import batteries—which is a problem since my power tools need them (I digress).

It’s not as third-world as people assume, but we don’t have municipal water or sewer, and electricity is complicated unless you’re completely off-grid (which we are).

That said, I really don’t like pesticides. I can’t just spray an entire forest, the surrounding area, and the beach with something that could harm wildlife. I run a syntropic garden—or at least I try—but some pests definitely need to go.

You said there were restrictions, I assumed you meant in what you can use or get in to you.
You just need to create a barrier around your property/house and there are products that can do that, that's why I ask of your restrictions.

 

[CabritaChicks]

oh! you cant create a barrier around my property- far to large, and more than half is seaside beach. I live on the Caribbean sea. But restrictions here- they are whatever you 'might' be able to get in.

 

[nuthatched]

oh! you cant create a barrier around my property- far to large, and more than half is seaside beach. I live on the Caribbean sea. But restrictions here- they are whatever you 'might' be able to get in.

Then, I would focus on you living areas.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Before refrigeration people used pie safes for pies and baked goods. Each leg was narrow and stood in a small can of oil. No ants would get past the oil.

You could take some 4" pvc pipe, bury it with maybe one inch of the top sticking out of the ground. Make a square of whatever size needed, cut out say a 2" wide slot in the top surface all the way around the perimeter. Fill it with water or oil or water with a thin layer of oil or kerosene/diesel . Chickens could easily walk over, might need cleaning when it fills with debris. Feed your chickens inside the square.

 

[CabritaChicks]

I must not have been clear- my home is not the issue... god no. It is the coop! where I spread the feed... which is about 200ft away from the home. I was just hoping to find something that worked for the little feed I will give them. Just didnt want it going stagnant and being eaten by ants in a few hours.

 

[McChooky]

Apple cider Vinegar affects their scent and repels them. It interferes with their ability to communicate with other ants.Spray the perimeter of the feeding area

 

[Sic]

In the Caribbean, ants are relentless. Unlike their North American counterparts, some species here—often called Crazy Ants—form aggressive, fast-moving swarms. The moment an opportunity arises, they descend in overwhelming numbers. For example, if a rat is caught in a snap trap, within minutes, these ants will cover the entire carcass. Similarly, a single tablespoon of peanut butter left on the patio disappears entirely within the hour.

Stepping outside for even ten seconds in the garden often means ants crawling on you- even in the lemongrass. While some people mistakenly refer to them as "sugar ants," these are a different species—smaller, more aggressive, and prone to massive swarming. I just took my chicks outside for a walk, and they eagerly ate a few of these ants.

However, this got me thinking: I’m worried that the swarms will devour their feed before they get a chance to eat. Since I'm pasture-raising them—giving them free range of the beach and forest—anything I put down risks being consumed by ants in seconds or just being a 'ick' factor.

I know there are some 'pest professionals' on this forum that have chickens...
Any suggestions for when the chickens are eventually in the coop ?? They say ants dont like citrus but lemongrass doesnt seem to deter them? ugh.

I think I'd be more worried they'd swarm the chickens, clogging the nostrils and suffocating them. They don't operate in small colonies and can number in the billions. These ants are moving across the globe (thanks to worldwide shipping) and literally a plague upon the environment wherever they go. They're small so might only be enticing food to chicks, but a hungry chicken will eat what's available. If your chickens will eat the crazy ants you'd have a winning strategy against these pests that appear to have no natural enemies..

I wish you luck.

 

[CabritaChicks]

I think I'd be more worried they'd swarm the chickens, clogging the nostrils and suffocating them. They don't operate in small colonies and can number in the billions. These ants are moving across the globe (thanks to worldwide shipping) and literally a plague upon the environment wherever they go. They're small so might only be enticing food to chicks, but a hungry chicken will eat what's available. If your chickens will eat the crazy ants you'd have a winning strategy against these pests that appear to have no natural enemies..

I wish you luck.

I was worried they would swarm the eggs. But then thought: Yeah, well the feral chicken population (every 20 feet) can make it, then my hens can weather the storm! I mean they have acres to roam.

Just want to keep the coop cleaner so they can roost in a bit more peace, and grab a super snack in the morning. Thank you for your well wishes.